Trump forces others to face difficult issues

Love him or hate him, there are a couple of things about Donald Trump most of us can agree on.

For one, he's not conventional candidate. Anyone who says they'll spend a billion dollars to win the nomination -- and who has the money to do it -- doesn't seem likely to be beholden to special interests, other than himself.

For another, a lot of hot-button issues that would be avoided by conventional candidates are being pushed onto platform for public debate.

Among them:

Abortion -- Trump says he's pro-life, but would outlaw only partial birth abortion.

The budget -- He would tax the rich with a one-time 14.25 percent tax to erase the national debt and save billions in interest, boosting the economy and lowering income taxes.

He would eliminate farm subsidies, food safety, energy regulations and transportation

China -- toughen up trade with China and stop permitting China to take advantage of the U.S., tax Chinese imports by 25 percent to improve the trade deficit, and enforce human rights in China.

Israel -- Israel is our best friend in the region and we should do everything we can to protect it. We should withdraw from the Middle East unless our own interests are directly threatened, and no humanitarian intervention should be offered.

National security -- America is ill prepared for a biological attack, and antibiotics and other remedies should be stockpiled while training emergency workers. Sensors should be placed in major cities and the public should be educated to reduce panic if an attack occurs.

Mexico -- along with his controversial remarks about undocumented immigrants, he recently called for raising visa fees to pay for a wall on the U.S. southern border. He favors making legal immigration more difficult and illegal immigration impossible. Illegals are bankrupting our country and abusing hospital emergency rooms, entitlement programs and public education.

Education -- He thinks our education system is in trouble, and that we should teach citizenship better and stop "dumbing down" the curriculum. He thinks school choice encourages competition and improvement. He would do away with the Department of Education and let local and state governments run their schools as they see fit.

Energy -- we should use more natural gas and more of our own oil to avoid being prisoners of OPEC.

Capital punishment -- It does serve as a deterrent and lethal injection is too comfortable, Trump believes.

Gun control -- Trump generally opposes gun control and believes every law-abiding citizen should have a gun if they want to. He does oppose assault weapons and favors a longer waiting period for hand guns, rifles and shotguns.

Health care -- Trump believes in access to affordable health care and has advocated a single-payer system in the past, but believes Obamacare is unconstitutional and so costly it will bankrupt the country.

North Korea -- We should stop North Korean nukes by force if necessary, Trump says.

Poverty -- Teen moms should not receive assistance unless they meet tough requirements, such as living in group homes to reduce further pregnancies by lending moral support.

Restrict public support and allow churches, temples and private individuals take care of poor and disadvantaged. Allow governments to partner with faith-based charitable organizations.

Same-sex marriage -- Trump is not in favor of same-sex marriage.

Any one of those issues could derail the campaign of a conventional candidate, but thanks to Donald Trump, they will have to take a stand.